Rave Bath

My kids get up early. Most days they are both up before, or close to 6 AM. Couple that with school from 8-3 (Tuesday through Thursday - Monday and Friday they have half days), and come 6 PM my kids are on a one way train to Crankville. It is hard enough to get them to sit and eat all their dinner when they are like this, let alone get them to eat and then go upstairs to take a bath.

There is the repeated chorus of "I don't want to take a bath!!" combined with writhing on the floor. Then the protest continues - "Why do we have to take a bath? We just took one yesterday? I don't stink! I am clean! Smell me!! I'm too tired to take a bath!" All too frequently there is some bribery on my part - an extra book, waiting up to see daddy, extra time to float in the tub, fancy bubbles, etc., and usually they take the bait and get in the bath. 

But I have a sure fire way to get them in the tub, no questions asked. 

Glow Sticks.

We had done this last year when we were living in the apartment a few times, but I totally forgot about it, until one of the girls found the glow sticks we had kicking around from Halloween. The past two nights the girls have actually asked to take a "glow stick" bath, each night running upstairs, racing to see who can get undressed first. Damn does that make the evening much more enjoyable!!

For just $19.99 you can buy a pack of 300 of the 8" sticks, on Amazon.com, which are the bracelet size ones, and that will last you a crazy long time. I let the girls have 8 glow sticks a piece each bath and it is plenty. 

 So if your kids protest the bath, get them excited with this simple and cheap idea. 

Just watch out for the crazy college flashbacks - wait, am I the only one that used to dance with glow sticks in college???

Three's company

Recently I’ve had a hard time scheduling play dates for my kids. It’s been a real bummer.  I love a good play date: the combo of seeing the dude play with his friends and little miss getting in on the action, all the while being able to sneak in a little catch-up time with my mama friends. But we’re in full-on Boston summer mode: many of our friends have been enjoying the summer on vacation or have been catching up on work in between.  We have missed them.

During my afternoons with the kids these past few weeks, I’ve been flying solo: just me, the dude and little miss.  Thankfully, the glorious summer weather means that I don’t have to be too creative: just pile everyone in that trusty double stroller and go to the park.  Of course, there’s a ton of organization to do beforehand: sippy cups, snacks, diapers, extra clothes and towel (for the sprinklers), etc piled in the diaper bag.  Sunscreen to apply on everyone before we head out, hats to put on, and shoes.  Don’t forget the loveys.  But once we’re out of the house, it’s pretty easy-breezy, all things considered. 

Yesterday in particular was a joy. Some highlights: the dude showed off his new skills of putting on his shoes AND of climbing in the double stroller, "all by myself."  Little miss was in a great mood, and forever helpful, reminded me to put on my sunglasses. Thank you, dear. Once outside, first the dude, then little miss, wanted me to pick some flowers from our garden.  Clutching their flowers, the kids looked super-cute as they cruised in their stroller and enjoyed the view.  The dude alerted little miss to her favorite little sparrows on the sidewalk.  Once we got to the park, they enjoyed their snack bars together. Playtime included the dude directing a little “parade” of the little miss and me, and the kids taking turns pushing each other on the swing.  Everyone headed happily back for dinner, a little sweaty but content, with matching sippy cups of milk in hand.

Usually those afternoons don’t go quite as smoothly—there might be something amiss, say grumpiness post-nap or a struggle over some toy or snack—but yesterday was unusually chill. Was it good planning on my part, their getting in to a groove with each other, or just plain old serendipity?  Whatever it was, it was simply magical.  Three is company after all.

I'll have seconds, thirds even...more of this, please.

This morning we all piled into our Honda civic to grab a 7am breakfast at the Watertown Deluxe town diner.  Usually the acrobatics involve trying to get everyone dressed and ready--mama, daddy, a 3 year-old and 1 year-old--at what feels like the crack of dawn, pile in the car, and hoof it to our favorite breakfast spot before it gets crowded at 8am.  Since my sister is visiting, today I had an additional stunt: to cram myself between two mammoth Britax boulevard car seats in the back.  Not an easy feat, with one car seat facing forwards and one facing backwards in a relatively compact sedan. Somehow I contorted myself to fit, even though the seat area remaining was really just enough for three-quarters a normal-sized adult tush.  How long I could hold this position, I wasn’t so sure.

And we were off, bleary-eyed but with dreams of blueberry pancakes and linguica in our heads.  Two minutes into the ride, the dude admonished me, “seat belt, mama!” Shoot. I thought I was going to skate by for the 10 minute car-ride without it, but that’s my first-born, the responsible, sensible one, talking.  More contortions to set a good example.  Then the in-flight service started, with each child asking for their milk in straw cups and some cereal to munch on. I could tell, this was going to be an action-packed ride.

But what can I say? I thoroughly enjoyed the ride there and back, and the breakfast in between.  Always in the front, I've never gotten to enjoy the car ride from the kids’ perspective. It was fun to snuggle in the back with the kids. Little miss looked happily out the window, and from time to time told me about the birds she saw--her greatest love are little sparrows, and so understandably, her first sign was for bird and one of her first words was “chim” (“bird” in Vietnamese). The dude and I spotted lots of trucks parked, and he commented on all the construction sites we passed.  We all ate heartily and messily.  It was a perfect Saturday morning.  Completely ordinary, completely fun.  I’ll have seconds, thirds even...more of this, please.

My favorite iPad/iPhone Apps of 2010

Over the last few days I have been trying to draft a clever post involving the typical end of the year "Top 10..." but I couldn't come up with anything...so I am finally writing the post I have been wanting to write for months. And now since I am the proud owner of an iPad (that hasn't left my side since I opened it Christmas morning) I figured I would share with you my favorite applications for both the iPad and the iPhone.

Drumroll please....Mama J's Top 11 iPad/iPhone apps of 2010 are...

Fuzzle's Holiday Version

11. Fuzzle/Fling: Ok so I ruined this list already by combining two games, Fuzzle and Fling, in one list, but since they are made by the same people I figured I would combine them into one. These crazy addicting puzzle games are tons of fun and don't use a ton of brain power so they are perfect for playing before bed, or while waiting in the drive through land at Starbucks, or while in the bathroom doing your business. And you can play them with one hand, so there is that too.

10. Weight Watchers: So I haven't gotten much use out of this app as I have been eating everything in site as of late, but upon my return to Boston tomorrow I will be back on points, so I will be using this all day. It is a crazy convenient way to track your points on the go, calculate points, and look up recipes if you are at the grocery store

Scrabble on iPad

9. Scrabble: Not much to say about this one, as you all know what it is. Even better on the iPad.

8. IMDB: This is one of my go-to apps. I am always trying to figure out "who's that guy from that movie..." so this is a popular one on my phone. It has a cool layout on the iPad...and it is free...so get it, you will use it.

7. Friendly (Facebook): I don't know if this is the official iPad Facebook app, but this is the one I downloaded for my iPad. It is very user-friendly and the set-up is really nice. I like it much more than the Facebook app I have on my iPhone. Much easier to navigate all around Facebook - which I do too often for any normal person.

6. Shutterfly for iPhone: Unfortunately they don't have an HD version of this for the iPad (yet) but if you use Shutterfly to share your photos, this is a great app to have. I use this to transfer my favorite photos from my albums already on Shutterfly to my iPad/Phone. You can also upload directly from your phone to the albums. Hopefully soon they will allow you to edit your Shared Sites on your phone, but not just yet.

5. Interactive Alphabet Flash Cards: This was a new application I downloaded on the iPad for Marlo, and it is crazy cool. It took her a little bit to warm up to it, but now she loves it. You go through every letter of the alphabet and it sounds it out, and along side the letter there is an interactive graphic. For example, Z is for Zipper, allows you to pull the zipper up and down and B is for Beach allows you to build a sand castle, and make the sun set...it is really neat.

4. Angry Birds: Voted the best gaming application of the year, this addictive, hysterical, charming, intelligent game deserves all the praise it gets. I am sure you already have it, but if you don't get it, play it, love it, kill those ugly pigs.

3. Baby Music: Marlo has music in her soul. Anytime she hears music she shakes her bum and claps her hands, and if she is the one making it, all the better. This application allows her to either play the piano, bongo drum, xylophone, or strum the harp. She loves sitting on my lap and smacking my iPad screen and watching the little graphics bounce around in time with her drumming...every kid will.

Plane Madness!!

2. Flight Control: This game is the reason my father purchased an iPad when it first came out, and I hate him and love him for introducing me to it. Hate him, because I have wasted more time playing this game (first on his iPad, then in a smaller version on my iPhone and now on my iPad), but love him for showing it to me because it is the best game ever. It is simply a game where you have to guide plains to land safely on their corresponding color coded landing strips...sounds simple, but it is anything but. I thought I was so super cool when I landed 120 planes in one game, only to find out the high score was something like 24,349. That person must have more free time than I do...but most people do!

1. Kindle for iPhone/iPad: When Amazon first introduced the Kindle I thought it would be something along the lines of Laser Discs. I said I would never choose to read a book on an electronic reader over holding a book in my hand. Then I read the first Twilight book, and wanted instant gratification and to start the second immediately, so I succumbed and downloaded the app on my iPhone...and I haven't looked back yet. And on the iPad, with the large screen, it is just like reading a paper book. I have read so much more this last few years because of this application. It makes going on vacation so much easier because gone are the days of packing multiple heavy books. Now I just  download them straight to the palm of my hand. In the past 10 days I read all three Hunger Games (highly recommend!) books on my iPad and didn't need to go anywhere to get them, or worry about finishing them in time to return them to the library. You pay anywhere from $4 to $9 for newer more recent books (most classics are free and older books are around $2-$3), but I think it is worth every penny. You can even get kids books on there, so if you are in a pinch and your kid loves to read you can entertain them with a tap of the finger.

A Boston Baby Mama Takes Baby to the Pool

by Mama K

I spent my whole life in and out of the pool.  My mom started me on swimming lessons when I was 6 months old and every summer we'd look forward to at least 2 weeks of lessons and a couple of weeks at Lake George and frolicking on the beaches at Cape Cod.  She wanted to make sure I was a confident water lover.  I started helping to teach swimming lessons to 5+ year olds when I was 13, then became a lifeguard, and then a WSI (Water Safety Instructor aka Red Cross Swimming Teacher) when I was 18.  After 15 years of teaching swimming I am chomping at the bit to get my son in the water.  Here is what I have learned that I plan to pass on to my little one.

Teaching the 6-18 month babies was so much fun for the parents and babies (and me) in the water babies classes.  You won't go in the deep end (unless you want to and both you and baby can get a flotation device if that makes it easier), so if you aren't a strong swimmer don't worry about it.  You just have to feel comfortable standing in the shallow end holding baby.  They do lots of songs and splashing and kicking, eventually blowing bubbles and going under water (if you are up for it).  It's a big transition for baby from bath tub to pool, so don't be surprised if your little one who LOVES the bath, is a sea of tears in the pool at first.  It's the same with all things baby if mom/dad are making it fun, happy, laughing and smiling baby will like it, if parents were ever tense, scared, nervous or unhappy baby HATED it. 

Start swimming lessons at 6 months don't wait until your kids are 2 years old to put them in the pool, the earlier you start the more confident swimmers they will be in the long run.  It's not a good idea to put babies younger than 6 months in the pool.  They should only be the water for 30 minutes, but show up early for your class and sit at the waters edge to let your little one get used to the smells, the echos and take in all the sights.  Do your best to keep baby warm, pools where lessons are taught are supposed to be a certain temp (sorry don't remember what) but even that will make young babies cold.  Think about how you feel diving into a pool, kind of a shock to the system, so take it slow.  It probably wouldn't hurt to put a t-shirt or another layer of fabric of some sort over babies water diaper.  Yes, that's right you need special diapers for the pool!

Learn the songs and actions from the teacher, it will be more fun for your baby and they like your voice (however off key it may be) better than anyone else! If you are taking a once a week class, try not to miss any classes and if you can get the pool in between classes that's even better.  The more you can expose baby to the new environment the better.  As a new mom I would suggest you bring your own water toys. In all the years I taught swimming never once did I see the toys cleaned!  Sure maybe since the water is chlorinated they are somewhat disinfected...but I'm not so sure about that.  With the frequency with which items are shoved into my son's mouth, not sure I'm willing to risk it.

Other things to expect when you go to the pool with your little one:
You have to get in the water!
Sing, have fun and keep moving
Keep your head close to baby's head, that means you put your shoulders in the water and get down at eye level with them on the water
Don't splash baby too much, but expect baby to soak you!
Take two parents - one in the water and one to warm up and dress baby after class
Don't feed baby right before swimming, so be sure to sign up for a class that works well with baby's schedule
Babies learn to swim vertically before they go horizontal, think bicycle riding in the water
Don't put baby's ears in the water until they like the pool, be careful when laying them on their back
The sooner you pry baby off you the sooner they will take to the water.  You might experience a death koala grip from baby, this typically happens with older babies - so start EARLY, it will be easier on you too.

Put on your happy faces and jump right in!!!! :)

Cheap Trick

By guest blogger Mama Joy


In our bag of tricks to entertain our lil ones we all have purchased $$$$ items to $ items.  I have bought both but I am here to tell you about a low budget one. ALPHABET FLASH CARDS!

Now I do not have a prodigy child, yet, but she loves these flash cards! She has always taken to staring at a sign above her changing table that reads “Sweet Pea”, although for the location of where it hangs I consider it to read Sweet Pee.  One day I decided to take it down and show her. As I read over each letter she squealed with delight.  

The next time I visited Wal Mart (sorry I do shop there) I picked up a deck of alphabet flash cards. On one side there is the letter and on the other side there is a picture of an item representing the letter.  For example A = Apple.  After I change her stinky diaper I take out a few cards and review them with her. She will track the letter as I move it around and gets very excited as I repeat the letter over and over to her.  The picture gives her more visual stimulation that she loves to track as well. The cards are good for fine motor skills, as she has developed a knack for grabbing them She eventually throws them once she realizes that she actually has something in her hands.  

We have got language development, tracking, and fine motor skills  covered. What more could a 4 ½ month old want? Oh wait,  that would be more milk!! So all this for fun for 99 cents! Good times! Good times!!